Sunday, September 09, 2007

Mudflat hiking: Holwerd-Ameland for minimalists

Pictures by Janine

Mudflat hiking (wadlopen) is a popular activity in the Netherlands. On the shallow Wadden Sea you can walk from the mainland to the isles of Terschelling (is seldom done - very long way), Ameland, Schiermonnikoog. It requires good planning to use the period of low tide to walk along the watershed of the mudflats. It's a great sensation to see how the sea "opens before your eyes" and makes a path to the islands. Compared to seakayaking it's very basic - forget your kayak gear and just walk to Ameland...While Jelle, Lieke and I were rushing around the Netherlands and Germany, Janine enjoyed a Wadloopdag with AV Clytoneus. Due to the fresh Northerly wind (and just a day after neap tide) Holwerd-Ameland was a wet crossing: most of the time walking in half a meter water, sometimes water up to the waist...